Wall form for concrete construction



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IllII H. T. DUDLEY WALL FORM FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION INVENTOR. HOMER T. DUDLEY ATTORNEYS June l, 1965 Filed Nov. 4, 1963 June 1, 1965 H. T. DUDLEY l 3,186,577

WALL FORM FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 4, 196:5 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. HOMER T, DUDLEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,186,677 WALL FORNI FUR CONCRETE CQNS'I'RUCTION Homer 'I'. Dudley, Tulsa, lda., assigner to H. T. Dudley Company, Inc., Tulsa, lrla., a corporation of Oklahoma Filed Nov. 4, 1953, Ser. No. 321,212 4 Claims. (Cl. 249-41) This invention relates to an improved wall form for concrete construction. More particularly, this invention relates to improved forms for construction of concrete Walls including improved wall ties for holding opposite Walls of the forms together and improved lateral wall bracing means. This invention also relates to an improved tool for releasing the wall ties from the form walls after the concrete has been poured therebetween and become hardened or set up.

It has long been the practice in building concrete walls to use two spaced apart vertical wall forms between which concrete is poured and allowed to harden thereby to form the desired wall.

These Wall forms are commonly made of wood and oftentimes are built at the location of the construction work and later torn apart after the concrete wall has been formed. Other wall forms in common use today are built in prefabricated sections that are connected together at the job site to form the desired wall form.

In the wall forms conventionally used today a multiplicity of wall ties extend between the wall forms located on each side of the concrete wall to connect them together and prevent bulging or breaking apart of the wall forms when the concrete is poured therebetween. Conventional wall ties in use today consist of a rod or ribbon of steel or other strong metal that extends through matching holes in the opposite wall forms and are retained therein by retainer pins extending through the wall tie, externally and adjacent to the two wall forms. These wall ties are usually spaced every two or three feet throughout the length and height of the wall forms.

After the wall is formed between the opposite wall forms and it is desired to remove the wall form it is rst necessary to remove or otherwise release the wall ties from the Wall forms. This is usually done by removing the outer retainer pins from the wall ties. Then the wall forms can be moved laterally or horizontally away from the side of the concrete wall until the forms are free of the exposed ends of the wall ties. Y

It has been found in removing the wall forms in the above described manner that the wall ties tend to bind in their respective holes or slits in the wall form thereby making it extremely dicult to remove the `wall form.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a wall form for concrete construction that overcomes the disadvantages of prior known wall forms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a strong, durable metallic Wall form for concrete construction that is made up in a plurality of prefabricated sections that can be easily connected together at the job site in the shape of the desired wall form.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved prefabricated wall form for concrete construction that can be easily and quickly assembled on the job site in the shape of the desired concrete wall and later disassembled after the wall is formed therebetween.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved wall form for concrete construction and an improved wall tie for connecting opposite spaced Vapart form walls together duringrthe pouring or construction of the concrete wall therebetween.

A further object of this invention is to provide an Vimproved wall form for concrete construction including 3,185,677 Patented .lune l, 1965 an improved wall tie for holding opposite form walls in correctly spaced relation, the tie being easily released from the opposite form walls to permit removal of the form walls from the concrete wall at the completion of the construction job.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Wall form for concrete construction including improved wall ties extending between opposite form walls, the exposed ends of the wallties provided with a weak point to allow breaking of the exposed ends of the wall ties from the remainder of the ties thereby allowing easy removal of the wall forms from the constructed wall.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a wrench for breaking the wall ties at their respective'weak points thereby to release them from connection with the wall form to facilitate removal of the wall form from the concrete wall.

In constructing concrete walls or similar structures with the use of form walls, it has been found necessary to brace these forms against lateral or horizontal movement with respect to the concrete wall formed therebetween. It is very important that this lateral support be relatively strong because of the great weight of the concrete used in the wall construction and the resultant large lateral forces applied to the wall forms.

When using the more conventional Wooden wall form this lateral bracing usually takes the form of a plurality of relatively large boards or timbers attached to the upper portion of the wall form inclining downwardly into contact with the ground. These timbers or boards are usually nailed in place on the wall form each time the form is to be used. When the form is to be removed from the linished concrete structure, the bracing elements are usually removed -from the form. Obviously such an operation is very time consuming and troublesome.

Therefore, another object of this invention is to provide a wall form for concrete construction including improved lateral bracing therefor.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide improved lateral bracing elements for wall forms for concrete construction which are easily and quickly attached to the form walls prior to the pouring of concrete therebetween and are easily and quickly removed from the form walls prior to disassembling the form.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts inthe several views. Y

FIGURE l is a top elevational view of opposite form walls of the wall form of this invention, connected together by the wall tie and having a concrete wall located therebetween.

FIGURE 2 is a partially exploded cross-sectional elevational view of the improved form wall of this invention.

yFIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional elevational View of one of the form Walls of FIGURE l taken along line 3-3.

. FIGURE 4 is 4an elevational view of the Vwall form of FIGURE 1 taken along line 4-4. p

FIGURE 5 is an external view of the lateral bracing member for the wall form of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is an external View of the retainer pin used to attach the lateral bracing member to the wall form of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a View of a wrench used to break the wall tie of this invention at its weak point prior to removal of the wall form from the finished wall.V

FIGURE S is a top elevational view of one wall of the,A

. 3 GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Wall form of this invention consists in general of a reinforced form wall structure provided along two adjacent edges withgrooves for receiving therein lip extensions provided on adjacent wall structures and provided along the two remaining adjacent edges with lip extensions to be received within corresponding grooves in adjacent wall structures. An improved wall tie for extending between opposite form wall structures to maintain them in properly spaced apart position is also provided. The wall tie is provided near each end thereof with a weak point that can be relatively easily sheared or 4broken by a wrench provided especially for that purpose to release the i opposite form wall structures fof removal from the completed concrete wall located between them.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGURE l there is shown a concrete -Wall 19 positioned within the wall form of this invention.

The wall form of this invention consists of two form walls 12 and 14 tied together by a plurality of wall` ties 16 made according to this invention.

Since form walls 12 and 14 are similarly constructed this description will be limited to form wall 12 only.

As can best be seen in FIGURE 4, form wall 12 is a relatively flat reinforced structure consisting of two channel members 18 and 20, intersecting at right angles to form two adjacent edges of the structure, and two frame members 22 and 24, intersecting at right angles to form theY remaining two edges of the structure.` Extending vertically between the upper channel member 18 and the hottom frame member 24 are several reinforcing members 26. Extending substantially parallel to the plane of the atlike wall form 12 and attached to the frame structures 22 and 24 are lip extensions 26 and 28, respectively. Lips 26 and 28 are of such a size and shape that they will fit within the grooves of the channel members (similar toV members 18 and 28) of adjacent wall sections (not shown) to assist in connecting adjacent wall sections together to Y tremity with a face plate 34.

The vertical side walls 36V and 38 of top channel member 18 are provided with registering bores 40 and 42, respectively. The body portion of wall tie receiving element 32 is provided with a passage 44 that registers with bores 48 and 42. Passage 44 terminates forwardly at face plate 34. Y Y

yFace platey 34 is provided with a centrally located substantially rectangular shaped opening 46 coinciding with Y and equal in length to a diameter of passage 44.

An improved wall tie 16 is used in assembling opposite Asections 12 and 14 of this wall form.V Wall tieV 16 consists of an elongated strip of metal stock having lsubstantiallyV rectangular transverse cross section.y Wall tie 16 is provided with reduced end portions 48 and 50. The width of the end portions 48 and nSi) is slightly( less than the Width of the rectangular opening 46-in facer plate Y34 and the diameter of passage'44 through wall tie receiving element 32.. At the points where reduced end portions 48 and 50 connect to the main body of the wall tie 16 there are provided weak points 52 and 53 respectively,rthe purpose of which will be described hereinafter,

The end portions 48 and 50 of wall tie 16 are received spectively. Wall tie retainer member 54 is substantially circular in cross-section and is preferably solid metal. The diameter of retainer member 54 is substantially equal or slightly less than the diameter of bores 40 and 42 through the vertical walls 36 and 38, respectively, of channel member 18, and the diameter of passage 44 through wall tie receiving element 32.

Wall tie retainer member 54 is provided in one end portion 55 thereof with a longitudinal diameter slot 56 for receiving therein the end portion 48 of wall tie 16 when the wall tie 16 extends within receiving element 32.

The end portion 48 of wall tie 16 is suicien-tly long to extend through receiving element 32 and both vertical Walls of channel member 18 to a point behind the back side o-f the wall form 12. End portion 48 is provided with at least one vertical perforation 58 that registers with a corresponding perforation 60 extending through a vertical diameter of wall tie retainer member 54, at right angles to the slot 56; A screw, bolt, or similar connecting pin 62 is passed vertically downwardly through perforation 6i) in wall tie retainer member and perforation 58 in the end 48 of the wall tie, thereby connecting wall tie 16 to retainer member 54.

Pin 62 is located rearwardly and immediately adjacent to the back side of the channel member 18, that is, adjacent to the back side of vertical Wall 38. Therefore, wall tie member 16 is prevented from being withdrawn from the receiving element 32. A similar pin 62A extends through matching perforations (not shown) in end portion Sti of wall tie 16 and Wall tie retainer member 54A to connect the form wall 14 to Wall tie 16. In this manner, the opposite form walls 12 and 14 of the wall form are effectively tied together `to sustain the weight of the concrete wall 1t) and prevent bulging or breaking of the form walls as concrete is Vpoured therebetween.

After the concrete has been poured between the opposite form walls of the wall form and has setup the form walls of this invention are `easily removed. In order to remove form walls 12 and 14 from the finished concrete wall 16 the wall ties 16 must be disconnected from the form walls. This is easily done by breaking the end portions 48 and 50 of wall tie 16 from the body portion of the wall ties at the weak points 52 and 53.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 there is shown a wrench for breaking the wall ties 16, preparatory to the removal of the form walls from the finished concrete wall 10. As can Ybe seen in that gure, the wrench 64k consists of a main body portion 66 having attached to one end thereof an elongated handle 68. Provided near the center of the body 66 is a circular passage 70 the axis of which is substantiallyV at right ,angles to the overall length of the wrench 64. Extending diametrically across this passage 70 is a solid partition '72.

Passage 70 has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the Wall tie retainer member 54.` Retainer member 54 is provided in its rearward end portion 57 with a longitudinally extending diameter slot 74 for receiving therein the solid partition 72 of wrench 64 when end portion 57 is received within passage 70.

`In breaking the Wall tie at the weak point`52, Wrench 64 is moved into position to receive rearward end portion 57 of wall tie retainer member 54in passage 70 with the solid partition 72 extending into the longitudinal groove 74 in the .retainer member. The handle 68 of the wrench 64 is then gripped and a force vapplied thereto to cause rotation of the wrench about the axis of passage 70. Rotation of wrench 64 causes the retainer member 54 and the stationary main body portion of the wall tie.

in the wall tie receiving elements 32'and 32A, respecend portion 48 of wall tie 16 to be rotated relative to the Suicient rotation of the end portion 48 of the wall tie will shear the wall tie at the weak point 52. Retainer member 54 and the end portion 48 .of wall tie 16 are then easily removed thereby releasing form wall 12 from connection to Wall tie 16 and the opposite Vform wall 14. Weak points 53 in end portions 50 of wall ties 16 are brokenin a similar manner to release the wall ties from connection to form wall 14.

After all the wall ties extending between the two wall forms have been released in the above described manner, the form walls are very easily moved away from the wall. It should be noted that the weak point 52 of the wall tie 16 is located adjacent to the back side of the face plate 34, therefore when the wall tie is broken at that point and the end portion 48 of the wall tie is removed, no portion of the wall tie will extend beyond the side face of the concrete wall to interfere with removal of the form walls or provide an obstacle to the nishing of the wall surfaces.

Furthermore, since the wall tie receiving element 32 extends forwardly of the face panel 30 it will become embedded within the concrete of the wall 10 when the concrete is poured between the form walls 12 and 14. Therefore, it is preferred that the element 32 be provided with a rounded configuration to facilitate its withdrawal from the corresponding rounded depression formed in the face of wall 10 by its presence during the pouring and setting of the wall.

It will be necessary in finishing the concrete wall formed between the wall forms of this invention to fill in the above described depressions with mortar, concrete or the like. However this is a relatively simple operation and will result in an attractive, blemish free concrete wall.

t Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 there is shown an improved bracing Vmember for furnishing lateral bracing support to the wall form of this invention. The bracing member consists substantially of an elongated timber or similar element 74 having attached to one end thereof a connecting element 76. Connecting element 76 consists of a two-sided piece of metal such as angle iron provided on one end thereof with one or more perforations 78 to accommodate nails or similar connecting means for connecting the element 76 to one end portion of timber 74. Element 76 is also provided on the other end thereof with a circular opening 80, extending through side 81, the opening being provided with diametric slot extensions 82 and 84. l

The connecting element 76 and the timber 74 are pivotally attached to the form wall 12 by a locking pin 88. Pin 88 is received within a passage (not shown) that extends transversely through vertical reinforcing member 26, parallel to panel facing 3G. Pin 88 is longer than the width of member 26 so that one end 86 will extend beyond the side of member 26. An enlarged head portion 90 on one end 91 of pin 8S and diametrically opposite radially extending prongs 92 and 94 on the other end 86 of pin 88 prevent withdrawal of the pin from the passage in member 26.

In connecting lateral support 74 to the wall form 12, support 74 is moved into its horizontal position, perpendicular to wall form 12 to align diametric slot extensions 82 and 84 with prongs 92 and 94 on pin S8. Side 81 of connecting element 76 is then moved adjacent to reinforcing member 26, in proximity of the end 86 of locking pin 88. End 86 of pin 88 is then received through circular opening 80 in side S1 with diametric slot extensions 82 and 84 accommodating radial prongs 92 and 94. After prongs 92 and 94 have passed through slot extensions 82 and 84, support 74 is pivoted downwardly about the axis of circular opening 80 until the end of support 74 opposite connecting element 86 contacts the ground. In this position prongs 92 and 94 are angularly offset from slot extensions 82 and 84, preventing withdrawal of pin 88 from circular opening 80. Therefore,v

support 74 is pivotally and removably attached to vertical reinforcing member 26.

To remove support 74 from connection to form wall 12, support 74 is pivoted into its horizontal position. Support 74 and connecting element -76 are then moved sideways away from reinforcing member 26 thereby withdrawing the end 86 of pin 88 from circular opening 80 to release support 74 from connection with member 26.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, there is shown a wall form according to this invention for making corners in concrete wall construction. The primary wall form structure 96 is of the type above described and will not be described further herein. The secondary wall form structure 98 used in making the corner is of the same general construction as the primary wall form structure, except, the channel member 169 on the edge of wall form 98 opens rearwardly at right angles to the plane of the wall form so that lip 102 of lstructure 96 will be received within the groove 104 of channel member 100.

The wall form shown in FIGURE 8 is the form used on the inside of the corner of the concrete wall. However, the wall form to be used on the outside of the concrete wall would be of similar construction except that the panel facing of the wall form, intended to lie adjacent to the surface of the concrete wall yformed thereby, would be provided on the back side of the wall form instead of the frontal side as shown in FIGURE 8.

It should be noted that the various elements of the wall form of this invention although having been described as being made from a metal such as iron and the like, can be madeV from other materials such as wood without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

The wall form of this invention is easily manufactured in prefabricated sections which can be quickly and easily assembled at the job site for forming concrete walls ytherebetween and later disassembled and removed from the wall after the wall has been formed. The concrete wall thus formed by this wall form has a relatively smooth blemish-free exterior surface which requires a minimum amount of finishing to provide a smooth attractive surface.

The improved wall ties of this wall form are easily assembled, relatively strong and easily released from connection to the form walls at the completion of the job when it is desired to remove the wall form.

The lateral support members of the wall form of this invention are easily attached to the wall form during construction and are equally easily detached from the wall form at the completion of the construction. Also, these lateral support members are re-usable on subsequent concrete construction jobs.

The invention has been described by reference to specific and preferred embodiments. It will be apparent however, that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, this invention should be construed not to be limited to the embodiments herein described but should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A wall form for concrete construction consisting of a plurality of interconnected wall form sections disposed on one side of said construction in opposition to a plurality of interconnected wall form sections on the other side of said construction, each of said sections comprised of:

a substantially fiat reinforced structural wall body having a front side provided with a facer panel for contact with said construction, and a back side, said wall body provided along two adjacent edges with lip extensions substantially parallel to the plane of said wa-ll body and provided along the other two adjacent edges with channel members having outwardly presented grooves for receiving therein the lip extensions of adjacent wall form sections;

a wall tie receiving element projecting from said front side of said wall body;

a circular passage extending through said wall form and through the rearward portion of said receiving element terminating forwardly in a rectangular passage that extends through the remainder of said receiving element;

an elongated Wall tie having a rectangular transverse cross-section and provided inwardly of each end with a weak point, one end portion of said wall tie ex- '27V tending from said front side Vat saidrwall through said rectangular passage and said circular passage to a point beyond said back side of said wall form section such that the weak point in said one endportion is of said wall form section and provided lwith a second longitudinal diametric slot;

body portion received within the angle of said two sides and attached to said connector element;

a circular perforation having diametrically opposite slot extensions provided in one of said two sides of situated at least asV far rearwardly in said circular said connector element; passage as the forwardmost point in said'circular a connector pin horizontally anchored in a portion of passage; said wall body and extending parallel to said facer a circular cross-sectioned retainer means for retaining panel, said pin provided ori one end thereof with two Y said one end portion of said wall tie within said recdiametrically opposite radial extensions, said one tangular passage and said circular passage, the forend of said pin being received through said perfora- Ward end portion of said retainer means extending tion when said connector element and attached main into said circular passage and provided with a rst body are horizontal to connect said element and said longitudinal diametric slot for receiving therein said main body to said wall body with said radial exone end portion of said wall tie, the rearward end tensions preventing withdrawal of said one end. of portion of said retainer means extending rearwardly said pin from said perforation when said connector element and attachedmain body are pivoted out of horizontal position.

4. A wall forni according to claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said one end portion of said wall tie to said forward end portion of said retainer means is a connector pin that extends through registering passages in means for connecting said one end portion of wall tie to said forward end portion of said retainer means; and at least one wall form supportV elementiremovably attached to said wall form section and inclining downwardly and rearwardly into contact with the ground. 2. Awall form according to claim 1 wherein said means for shearing said Yweak point is a wrench comprised of:

a head portion; 25 l a passage extending partially through said head portion immediately adjacent to said back side of said wall body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS for receiving therein the rearward end portion of said 680,433 8/01 pierce 25 13'1 fftame mean 1,597,424 8/26 Bennetts 25-131 a diametric partition extending longitudinally of the int 1 782 921 11/30 Gremel 25 131 terior of said passage to be received within said sec- 960,502 5 /34 McMiua n 25 131 ond longitudinal diametric slot in said retainer means 211681990 8/39 Hungerforzl-:: 25 131 thereby to prevent rotation of said retainer` ineans 2,511,829 5/50 Arrighini et aL 25 131 within saidpassage, relative to said head portion; 2,715,257 g/55 Symons 25 131 a handle portion. extending from s aid headportion sub- 3,074,141 l Y 1/63 Bowden et al 25 131 stantially at right angles to said passage.

3. A wall form according to claim 1 whereinV said at FOREIGN PATENTS least one support element consists of: 735,289 8/ 55 Great Britain. t

an elongated main body portion; a metallic connector element having two perpendicular- Y MICHAEL V' BRINDISI Primary, Exammer ly intersecting sides, one end portion of said main 40 ROBERT F. WHITE, .Examz'ner.

said wall tie and said retainer means, rearwardly of andY 

1. A WALL FORM FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED WALL FORM SECTIONS DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID CONSTRUCTION IN OPPOSITION TO A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED WALL FORM SECTIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID CONSTRUCTION, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS COMPRISED OF: A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT REINFORCED STRUCTURAL WALL BODY HAVING A FRONT SIDE PROVIDED WITH A FACER PANEL FOR CONTACT WITH SAID CONSTRUCTION, AND A BACK SIDE, SAID WALL BODY PROVIDED ALONG TWO ADJACENT EDGES WITH LIP EXTENSIONS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID WALL BODY AND PROVIDED ALONG THE OTHER TWO ADJACENT EDGES WITH CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING OUTWARDLY PRESENTED GROOVES FOR RECEIVING THEREIN THE LIP EXTENSIONS OF ADJACENT WALL FORM SECTIONS; A WALL TIE RECEIVING ELEMENT PROJECTING FROM SAID FRONT SIDE OF SAID WALL BODY; A CIRCULAR PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID WALL FORM AND THROUGH THE REARWARD PORTION OF SAID RECEIVING ELEMENT TERMINATING FORWARDLY IN A RECTANGULAR PASSAGE THAT EXTENDS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF SAID RECEIVING ELEMENT; AN ELONGATED WALL TIE HAVING A RECTANGULAR TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION AND PROVIDED INWARDLY OF EACH END WITH A WEAK POINT, ONE END PORTION OF SAID WALL TIE EXTENDING FROM SAID FRONT SIDE AT SAID WALL THROUGH SAID RECTANGULAR PASSAGE AND SAID CIRCULAR PASSAGE TO A POINT BEYOND SAID BACK SIDE OF SAID WALL FORM SECTION SUCH THAT THE WEAK POINT IN SAID ONE END PORTION IS SITUATED AT LEAST AS FAR REARWARDLY IN SAID CIRCULAR PASSAGE AS THE FORWARDMOST POINT IN SAID CIRCULAR PASSAGE; A CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTIONED RETAINER MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID ONE END PORTION OF SAID WALL TIE WITHIN SAID RECTANGULAR PASSAGE AND SAID CIRCULAR PASSAGE, THE FORWARD END PORTION OF SAID RETAINER MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID CIRCULAR PASSAGE AND PROVIDED WITH A FIRST LONGITUDINAL DIAMETRIC SLOT FOR RECEIVING THEREIN SAID ONE END PORTION OF SAID WALL TIE, THE REARWARD END PORTION OF SAID RETAINER MEANS EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF SAID WALL FORM SECTION AND PROVIDED WITH A SECOND LONGITUDINAL DIAMETRIC SLOT; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID ONE END PORTION OF WALL TIE TO SAID FORWARD END PORTION OF SAID RETAINER MEANS; AND AT LEAST ONE WALL FORM SUPPORT ELEMENT REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID WALL FORM SECTION AND INCLUDING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWADLY INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. 